The Devil And The Dark Water

Stuart Turton follows up his debut, The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle, with a historical novel set in 1634 aboard an East India merchant ship.

The Devil And The Dark Water is a Sherlock Holmesstyle mystery meets Tolkien-esque adventure, with an extensive cast and elaborate plot. Threatened by storms and superstition, the passengers, sailors and soldiers aboard the Saardam endure several chaotic – and bloody – weeks as a demon known as “Old Tom” plagues the ship. Turton flits between characters, the plot tossing and turning like the ship on the high seas. Each crest and fall adds to the compelling story, culminating in an unpredictable and thoroughly satisfying ending.